
 FAQ's
  Frequently asked questions

Please read the campaign brief from Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change.
*Not legal advice - intended solely for educational purposes!
What is the ICJ?
1
The ICJ, or International Court of Justice, is the principal court of the United Nations. It exists to settle disputes between countries, as well as clarify matters of international law through advisory opinions. Our campaign helped support the passage of a UN General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion on the legal rights of future generations. (Advisory opinions are currently also being sought from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and ITLOS, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, on the topic of climate change and state obligations.) Although much of international law is technically non-binding, opinions of the ICJ hold great legal and moral weight, and our strategy is endorsed by numerous legal experts.
Why rights of future generations?
2
In addition to the grave impacts of the climate crisis on natural habitats and biodiversity, it is important to our team to center frontline communities, who often are not fully represented in the existing legal system. Much of our legal framework was developed by law students from island nations in the Pacific, and our co-signers include Green Climate Campaign Africa and other advocacy organizations around the world.
What is your campaign's timeframe?
3
On March 29th, 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a version of our resolution by consensus, formally requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. This resolution was introduced and championed by Vanuatu, and the youth movement is immensely grateful to Vanuatu for their support. The UN Secretary-General will communicate this outcome to the Court, and the Court will then review the resolution. Following this, the ICJ will call for written and oral submissions. We call on young people from all around the world to ensure that our voices are heard in this process!
What are the goal outcomes?
4